Even though Ohio State’s defense will be working without starting linebacker Etienne Sabino for the next several weeks, there’s a good chance one its top safeties, C.J. Barnett, will return on Saturday for a game against Indiana.“He’s full speed, he’s playing,” coach Urban Meyer said after practice yesterday.

Barnett suffered a high ankle sprain four weeks ago that kept him out of the past three games.

“He’s been playing it pretty cool, being one of those top older guys just coaching younger guys up, telling us what he sees out there so we can be prepared for it,” safety Christian Bryant said. “C.J. has been doing a good job so far, even when he’s not playing.”

After practice, Bryant said he thought Barnett was coming along: “I would say he’s about 90 percent. I’m looking forward to him being on the field this week.”

Senior Orhian Johnson started in Barnett’s place the past three games and has played well, making an interception last week in a victory over Nebraska.

As for replacing Sabino, Meyer said freshman Josh Perry is “getting a little better.” But as he added, with Indiana using a spread offense that generally plays three and four receivers, “we’ll be in nickel a lot this week.” That usually means just two linebackers, Ryan Shazier and Storm Klein, with a fifth defensive back.

Trip within a trip

On Friday, the Buckeyes are busing to Indiana, as in the state, not the site of the game. Because of challenges in finding a hotel, they will stay outside Indianapolis, traveling the last 60 miles to Bloomington on Saturday afternoon.

Coming from Florida in the Southeastern Conference from 2005 to 2010, Meyer said his team faced similar situations in trips to Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State.

“It’s tough,” he said. “I guess we have a helicopter (to scout the road between Indianapolis and Bloomington on Saturday) to make sure we get there on time. … It’s a distraction, but worry about what you can worry about. So we’re fine.”

More games with Texas

It’s a decade away, but Ohio State and Texas have agreed to home-and-home series beginning in 2022.The Buckeyes will travel to Austin on Sept. 17 of that year, and the Longhorns will visit Ohio Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023.

“Playing a program like the University of Texas always creates remarkable experiences for our players and fans,” athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement released by the school. “Our last series with the Longhorns (in 2005 and ’06) contributed to the great history and tradition that Buckeye Nation enjoys.”

In the first home-and-home between the teams, Texas and quarterback Vince Young won at Ohio Stadium in 2005 on their way to the national championship. Ohio State returned the favor with a one-sided victory at Austin in 2006, the launching pad to Troy Smith’s rise to the Heisman Trophy and the Buckeyes’ climb to the national title game, which they lost to Meyer and Florida.